Where are the liberal trolls?

[John_Mace]

@bump

I

**Shodan **and John Mace aren’t quite so inflammatory- they’re good examples of posters who can hold opinions contrary to the accepted norm around here, yet still not quite troll.

So I’m “not quite a troll”? Thanks. I think…

[John_Mace]

@Der_Trihs

The SDMB is at most in the middle, not a “bastion of liberalism”.

Maybe from a global standpoint, but from the USA’s standpoint, it’s a “bastion of liberalism”.

[elucidator]

Think Globally, Act Loco.

[John_Mace]

Visualize whirled peas.

[bump]

@John_Mace

So I’m “not quite a troll”? Thanks. I think…

No… I didn’t phrase that so well. I was saying that you’re able to articulate an opposite viewpoint that’s not well received without being perceived as a troll, even though a lot of other posters saying something similar would be viewed as such.

In other words, I think everyone knows you’re not in it to piss everyone off when you post something that might be considered inflammatory to one side or the other, and you can’t really say that for other posters like Der Trihs or Bricker.

[John_Mace]

@bump

No… I didn’t phrase that so well. I was saying that you’re able to articulate an opposite viewpoint that’s not well received without being perceived as a troll, even though a lot of other posters saying something similar would be viewed as such.

In other words, I think everyone knows you’re not in it to piss everyone off when you post something that might be considered inflammatory to one side or the other, and you can’t really say that for other posters like Der Trihs or Bricker.

OK, but can you not put in the same category as Shodan?

[Velocity]

We’re becoming a society that finds truth offensive.

[John_Mace]

You can’t handle the truth!

[Der_Trihs]

@John_Mace

Maybe from a global standpoint, but from the USA’s standpoint, it’s a “bastion of liberalism”.

So are most places on Earth.

[Clothahump]

[QUOTE=Der Trihs;17860457
The affair demonstrated a problem with trolling/parodying conservatives; actual conservative beliefs are so extreme and so stupid that even conservatives themselves have great difficulty telling the difference between the real thing and mockery. [/QUOTE]

Now there’s a perfect example of liberal blindness. Actual conservative beliefs are NOT extreme in the slightest.

[running_coach]

@Clothahump

Now there’s a perfect example of liberal blindness. Actual conservative beliefs are NOT extreme in the slightest.

So you’re not actually a conservative, right?

[Colibri]

@Clothahump

Now there’s a perfect example of liberal blindness. Actual conservative beliefs are NOT extreme in the slightest.

I think you just supported Der Trihs point. If I didn’t know you were conservative, I would have assumed this remark was mockery.

[septimus]

@Malthus

The question answers itself: out-and-out trolls (rather than simply very opinionated posters) sre likely to self-select/take on the opposite character from the way a board “leans”.

I’m not sure. I think non-right posters who want to provoke a right-wingers will espouse extreme right-wing views, to make a caricature, or reductio ad absurdem of right-wing thought.

@JesterX

Pretty sure resident conservatives will disagree, but IMHO, I find liberals tend to be more intellectual. It takes more to stimulate smarter people. Trolling doesn’t do it.

It’s often ignored but studies have shown that political differences are linked to differences in brain function. For example, Conservatives are more easily disgusted than liberals (pdf).

[Der_Trihs]

@Clothahump

Now there’s a perfect example of liberal blindness. Actual conservative beliefs are NOT extreme in the slightest.

Yes they are; they are either blatantly evil or border on outright insane, when they aren’t over that line.

[montag01]

They hang out at DailyKos, I think. Click on any diary entry there and scroll down to the comments, and you’ll quickly find insanity and “lefter than thou/more progressive than thou” bickering and sniping.

[Stringbean]

@Der_Trihs

Yes they are; they are either blatantly evil or border on outright insane, when they aren’t over that line.

And, this is what we call trolling boys and girls.

[Der_Trihs]

@Stringbean

And, this is what we call trolling boys and girls.

No; it’s what you call “trolling”, and what I call honestly expressing an opinion. And pointing out the obvious.

[Knorf]

Really. A distinction should be made between a confrontational posting style and trolling.

[El_Kabong]

@John_Mace

You can’t handle the truth!

I certainly can. Got my protective gloves right here.

@Clothahump

Now there’s a perfect example of liberal blindness. Actual conservative beliefs are NOT extreme in the slightest.

@Dre Tris

Yes they are; they are either blatantly evil or border on outright insane, when they aren’t over that line.

FTR, I don’t think either of you two mooks are trolls, but of what earthly use to anyone do you think are either of these ridiculously sweeping posts?

Your incessant, non-specific partisan cheerleading, repeating banal views that everyone already knows you hold and has heard thousands of times before, is part of the problem, not the solution.

[John_Mace]

@Shodan

By the definition of the OP, they are.

Well, the OP was a bit sloppy in that one line, but I still think you’re reading wrong. You can make childish comments without trolling. You have to be doing both, per that definition. A childish comment, in and of itself, is not trolling.